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| United States Patent |
5,203,471
|
|
Widman
|
April 20, 1993
|
Detachable handle for containers
Abstract
A detachable handle adapted to engage a container, such as a paint can,
formed with a continuous sidewall which terminates in a set of top and
bottom peripheral edges separated one from the other by the sidewall. The
handle comprises a generally C-shaped resilient body adapted for manual
holding and defining an interior generally concave surface, a pair of edge
engaging fingers fixed to the interior surface of the C-shaped body with
each finger separated from the other so that both container edges can be
engaged by the two fingers, and an elongated camming lever having a first
end pivotally attached to the interior surface of the C-shaped body, and
with an opposite end loosely positioned adjacent a different interior
surface of the C-shaped body. The application of a manual gripping force
between the camming lever and the curved body separates the edge engaging
fingers one from the other by increasing their separation bite to release
a container or alternatively to engage a container.
The handle includes a support platform fixed to the C-shaped body beyond
the top edge engaging finger to project into an attached open container.
The support platform may carry a tool which can be used as a paint scraper
or as a paint brush cleaning tool. Alternatively, the support platform can
be used to support a paint brush so that any paint dripping from the brush
falls into an open container.
| Inventors:
|
Widman; Bruno (534 E. Lincoln Hwy., Dekalb, IL 60115)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
956965 |
| Filed:
|
October 6, 1992 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
220/755; 220/756; 220/759; 220/769; 294/33 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B65D 023/10 |
| Field of Search: |
220/759,750,755,756,768,769
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2788153 | Apr., 1957 | Broadbelt | 220/759.
|
| 2791350 | May., 1957 | Mennen | 220/759.
|
| 3809285 | May., 1974 | Unger et al. | 220/759.
|
| 4433864 | Feb., 1984 | Byrd | 220/759.
|
| 4702395 | Oct., 1987 | Nitsch | 220/759.
|
| 4896913 | Jan., 1990 | Kennedy | 220/759.
|
| 4993767 | Feb., 1991 | Song | 220/759.
|
Primary Examiner: Moy; Joseph Man-Fu
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Douvas; Augustus G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A detachable handle adapted to engage a container formed with a
continuous sidewall which terminates in a pair of peripheral edges
separated one from the other by the sidewall, comprising a generally
curved bendable body adapted for manual holding and with the curved body
defining an interior generally concave surface, a pair of edge engaging
means fixed to the interior surface of the curved body with each such
means separated from the other, and an elongated camming lever having a
first end pivotally attached to the interior surface of the curved body
and having an opposite end loosely positioned adjacent a different
interior surface of the curved body whereby the application of a manual
gripping force between the camming lever and the curving body separates
the edge engaging fingers one from the other to release thereby any
container to which the detachable handle is attached.
2. A detachable handle adapted to engage a container formed with a
continuous sidewall which terminates in a pair of peripheral edges
separated one from the other by the sidewall, comprising a generally
curved bendable body adapted for manual holding and with the curved body
defining an interior generally concave surface, a pair of edge engaging
means fixed to the interior surface of the curved body with each such
means separated from the other, and an elongated camming lever having a
first end pivotally attached to the interior surface of the curved body
generally adjacent one of the edge engaging means and having an opposite
end loosely positioned adjacent a different interior surface of the curved
body generally adjacent the other of the edge engaging means whereby the
application of a manual gripping force between the camming lever and the
curved body separates the other edge engaging means from an engaged edge
thereby detaching the handle from any container to which the detachable
handle is attached.
3. A detachable handle adapted to engage a container formed with a
continuous sidewall which terminates in a set of top and bottom peripheral
edges separated one from the other by the sidewall, comprising a generally
C-shaped resilient body adapted for manual holding and defining an
interior generally concave surface, a set of top and bottom edge engaging
fingers fixed to the interior surface of the C-shaped body with each
finger separated from the other so that both container edges can be
engaged by the two fingers, and an elongated camming lever having a first
end pivotally attached to the interior surface of the curved body adjacent
the top edge and with an opposite end loosely positioned adjacent a
different interior surface of the C-shaped body adjacent the bottom edge
whereby the application of a manual gripping force between the camming
lever and the curved body separates the bottom engaging finger from an
engaged bottom edge thereby detaching the handle from any container to
which the detachable handle is attached.
4. The detachable handle of claim 3 in which the camming lever is formed
with a reduced section adjacent its first end to facilitate the pivotal
movement of the lever in response to a manual gripping force so as to flex
the handle body thereby disengaging or engaging the bottom finger from or
to a bottom edge.
5. The detachable handle of claim 3, comprising a guide finger fixed to the
interior surface of the C-shaped body adjacent the top finger to contact
and rest against the container sidewall with the top finger and the guide
finger defining a top edge engaging mouth for receiving and holding the
top edge of any attached container.
6. The detachable handle of claim 3 comprising a support platform fixed to
the body beyond the top edge engaging finger to project into an attached
container having an open top.
7. The detachable handle of claim 6 comprising a utility tool fixed to the
support platform.
8. The detachable handle of claim 7 in which the utility tool is a paint
scraping blade.
9. The detachable handle of claim 6 in which the support platform is formed
with a generally straight projecting edge which may be used for cleaning a
paint brush with any paint removed from the brush dripping into a
container having an open top.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to detachable handles for containers, and in
particular to an improved handle adapted for use with containers housing
paint which is to be brush applied.
The prior art includes a substantial number of handle designs which may be
applied to containers. United States patents of general interest include
the following:
U.S Pat. No. 2,689,760 issued Sep. 21, 1954 to J. A. Vanous,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,315 issued Apr. 17, 1950 to R. C. Dreier,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,905,500 issued Sep. 22, 1959 to T. S. Thombs,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,261,633 issued Jul. 19, 1966 to D. Sakuta,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,261 issued Feb. 21, 1967 to R. L. Swanke,
The prior art does not disclose a detachable handle which may be easily
applied to a paint container and removed by single-handed manipulation
leaving the other free for other work, and with the handle also performing
several other useful tasks such as a storage support for a dripping paint
brush, a tool for removing excess paint from a paint brush, and a paint
scraper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide an improved
detachable handle particularly adapted for application to containers and
which is easily useable by single-handed manipulation.
Another object is to provide an improved detachable handle particularly
adapted for application to containers for paint and which will serve
several additional uses related to painting, namely, brush storage and
cleaning, and paint scraping.
A preferred embodiment of the detachable handle of this invention is formed
from a single unitary resilient plastic element which is adapted for
clamping attachment to the top and bottom edges or rims of a container.
This plastic element includes a C-shaped body containing a pair of spaced
clamping fingers which engage the container edges or rims. A camming lever
is pivotally attached to an inside concave surface of the C-shaped body.
The resiIient body is flexed in response to a manual gripping force
applied to both the camming lever and the handle body. This force causes
the spaced fingers to separate enabling the handle to be either attached
or detached from a container. When the manual force is removed, the
resilient body returns to its unstressed state which will cause the handle
to clamp any container to which it may be applied.
The handle also includes a flared support platform which projects from the
body of the handle into the cavity of any container to which the handle is
applied. This platform can serve as a storage support for a paint brush
and with any paint dripping from the bristles of the brush falling into
the container.
The platform has a straight projecting edge which can carry an optional
blade. The handle and blade combination can be used as a manually operated
paint scraper, or alternatively, either the blade or the straight edge of
the platform can be used as a brush cleaner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that all of the structural features of this invention may be
understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows the application of a preferred
embodiment of the detachable handle of this invention to an open paint
can;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the detachable handle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the detachable handle of the prior Figures;
FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view which shows the camming lever deforming the
resilient body of the handle prior to the application of the handle to an
open container containing paint;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view related to FIG. 6 which shows the
detachable handle attached to the container of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view which shows a support platform formed as a
part of the detachable handle being used to clean a paint brush, or
alternatively, being used to support a paint brush (shown in the phantom
lines) so that the brush bristles will drip any retained paint into the
open container; and
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view which shows the detachable handle in use as
a scraper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, detachable handle 1 of this invention is
preferably formed as a single unitary piece from a resilient plastic, such
as polypropylene, because many of the elements forming the handle are
required to flex to effect both attachment and detachment of the handle t
container 2.
Handle 1 has a generally C-shaped body 3 of uniform width and thickness. A
flared support platform 4 projects from the upper end of body 3. Platform
4 projects into container 2 (FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8) when handle 1 is
attached to open container 2. An optional utility tool, such as metal
scraper blade 5, may be fixed by rivets 6 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) to the lower
side of platform 4 so that blade 5 can be used either as a scraper (FIG.
9), or alternatively to drain the bristles of a paint-containing brush 7
(FIG. 8) with the paint dripping into container 2.
In the event blade 5 is omitted from handle 1, the beveled straight edge 6
of platform 4 can also adequately drain paint brush 7 of any paint.
Platform 4 can be used as a support for paint brush 7 when the brush is not
in use. (See brush 7 shown in phantom broken lines in FIG. 8). Any paint
dripping from the bristles of brush 7 will fall into container 2.
The interior concave surface of C-shaped body 2 is formed with a pair of
projecting, edge-engaging fingers 8 and 9. These fingers are clamping
fingers so located on body 3 to define a separation bite which Will clamp
tightly on peripheral container edges or rims 10 and 11, respectively. Top
edge 10, in the case of a paint container, includes the conventional
annular lid-receiving channel 12 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7). In the case of a
container which is formed with a channel, such as channel 12, top edge
engaging finger is preferably seated within channel 12 as is shown in
FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.
Guide finger 13 projects from the inner concave surface of handle 3 closely
adjacent to top-edge engaging finger 8. Fingers 8 and 13 jointly define
mouth 14 which receives top edge 10 when handle 1 is attached to container
2. Guide finger 13 serves both to align and to lo? k handle 1 on container
2.
In order both to attach and to detach handle 1 to and from container 2, it
is necessary to expand the clamping bite distance A (FIG. 2) between
fingers 8 and 9 from that normally provided by resilient body 3 when the
body is in the unstressed condition of FIG. 2. The expansion of this bite
distance is effected by the novel function and structure of pivoting
camming lever 14 (FIGS. 2 and 4).
Camming lever 14 is an elongated element of generally uniform width with a
reduced thickness section 15. The upper end 16 of lever 14 is flexibly
attached to the inner Concave surface of body 3 adjacent to guide finger
13. The lower end 17 of lever 14 hangs loosely adjacent the adjacent inner
surface of body 3. Reduced thickness section 15 is located close to the
line of attachment of lever 14 to body 3 in order to facilitate the
pivotal Camming movement of lever 14 against the lower inner surface of
body 3. In particular, when a manual gripping force is applied between
body 3 and lever 14 (FIG. 4) tending to reduce the separation distance B
(FIG. 2) between these two elements to that of B' of FIG. 4, the lower end
17 of lever 14 is moved upwardly along the lower inner surface of body 3
(FIG. 4) forcing the lower end of body 3 to enlarge the unstressed bite
distance A of FIG. 2 to that of the stressed bite distance A' of FIG. 4.
The enlargement of the bite distance in response to manual gripping of
handle 1, enables the handle to be easily applied to container 2 and also
removed through the use of only a single hand. This feature enables a
painter to use his other hand for alternative work. When the manual
gripping force is released, the resiliency of body 2 reduces the bite
distance to the unstressed distance A (FIG. 2) thereby effecting a
reliable clamp on container 2.
It should be noted that fingers 8, 9 and 14 have curved edges (FIG. 4 and
5) so as to mate closely with the circular edges 8 and 11 and the
cylindrical sidewall 18 joining these edges.
It should be understood that the structure of the preferred embodiment just
described can be modified without departing from the claimed scope of the
invention.
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